A metabolic network in the evolutionary context: multiscale structure and modularity.

ABSTRACT: The enormous complexity of biological networks has led to the suggestion that networks are built of modules that perform particular functions and are "reused" in evolution in a manner similar to reusable domains in protein structures or modules of electronic circuits. Analysis of known biological networks has revealed several modules, many of which have transparent biological functions. However, it remains to be shown that identified structural modules constitute evolutionary building blocks, independent and easily interchangeable units. An alternative possibility is that evolutionary modules do not match structural modules. To investigate the structure of evolutionary modules and their relationship to functional ones, we integrated a metabolic network with evolutionary associations betwee

SUBMITTER: Spirin V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1482654 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature